| European buckthorn |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: RHCA3 USDA ARS GRIN: 31018 ITIS: 28573 NAPIS: PEJAGBC |
| Rhamnus cathartica L. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Rhamnales: Rhamnaceae |
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| Synonym(s): common buckthorn, European buckthorn | |
Common buckthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow to 25 ft. (7.6 m) in height. The bark is dark gray and the inner bark is orange (easily seen when the tree is cut). Twigs are usually tipped with a sharp spine. The leaf arrangement is usually subopposite, but examples of opposite and/or alternate arrangements are commonly found. Leaves are dark green, oval, 1.5 to 3 in. (3.8-7.6 cm) long, slightly serrate with 3 to 4 pairs of curving veins and a somewhat folded tip. Flowering occurs in the spring, when yellow-green, 4-petaled flowers develop in clusters of 2 to 6 near the base of the petioles. Plants are dioecious (male and female flowers occur on separate plants). Fruits are small, black berries that are 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) in diameter. Common buckthorn invades forests, prairies and savannas in the Midwestern United States and can form dense thickets crowding out native shrubs and understory plants. Once established, it is difficult to remove. Common buckthorn is a native of Europe and was introduced into the United States as an ornamental shrub. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Nonnative Plants of Wisconsin - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Fact Sheet - Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Story, County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Leaves often exhibit a curled or crimped look at the tip. Story County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Twig(s)/Shoot(s); Sub-opposite arrangement. South Dakota Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Pointed "buckthorn" at the end of the stem. Story, County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Leaf scars and buds Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Pointed "buckthorn" at the end of a stem. South Dakota Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Bark; Young Stem. South Dakota Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Bark; Orange-colored underbark. Story, County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Staminate flowers Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Stroy County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; On left with bush honeysuckle on right. Story, County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 502. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
- Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society
- Invasive Plant Council of New York State
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 1994
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1998
- Missouri Department of Conservation,
- New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust, Pennsylvania.
- Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
- Rhode Island Natural History Society,
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation,
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Connecticut Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
- Minnesota Noxious Weeds
- New Hampshire Noxious Weeds
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Watch List B
- Vermont Noxious Weeds
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